Homeless mother Erica Fleming is finally starting her first day at Trinity College today after initial setbacks and said with a smile: “I’m doing it for my Emily – I’m determined to break out of the poverty trap”

Erica, 30, has been homeless and living in a Dublin hotel with her daughter, Emily, 10, for more than a year - due to a continuing housing crisis in the capital.

But the former office worker feels she now has her best shot at success thanks to the Trinity Access Programme.

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She beamed: “I’m really excited about going back to a classroom for the first time since school.

“Me and Emily went to get my college supplies yesterday and she threw her arms round me and said ‘Mam, I’m so proud of you going to college.’

“It’s added pressure that this means to much to my daughter – but that will be the very thing that will continue to drive me.”

(Photo: Olivia Lynott)

Erica was due to start class at 2pm today at the prestigious Dublin college, which also became home to independent Senator Lynn Ruane – who successfully fought to get out of poverty, a one-time teenage single mum from Tallaght.

Erica will be studying maths all week and then focusing on social studies and politics among other subjects.

She is keen to pursue a career in social work though she has also indicated an interest in politics in recent months.

She told Dublin Live: “I’m nervous the day has arrived – and I didn’t think I would get there.

“I’m extremely anxious – I can’t explain the nerves, because I’ve not been in a classroom for years and it’s a new environment and I’m unsure of how I’m even going to get by financially because I’ve never not worked.”

Erica left the office job she had for six years on August 25 to pursue her Trinity dream. But there was an initial setback when she was refused the Back to Education Allowance.

Erica Fleming with daughter, Emily & President Michael D Higgins

But she has since learnt she could access a welfare payment suitable for single parents and other people to go back to education – a job seekers’ transitional payment.

At around only €200-a-week, things will be tight for the mother and daughter – because after school care is running up to €90-a-week.

She explained: “I’ve always had a wage and knew how I’d live, so it’s going back to a student environment and having a daughter to support that I’m particularly overwhelmed about.

“But I know other people do it so I’m sure I can too – I just need a plan and once I get that in place, I will feel better.”

But Erica does feel that there should be more “transparent” state supports for single parents to dig their way out of poverty traps, and people on hand to give advice.

She said she only found out about the welfare subsidy, after initially being refused the back to education allowance, by accident.

Erica Fleming

And she was shocked it made such big news without anyone from the Government stepping forward to state there was another option.

The mother felt as soon as she was refused one financial support to attend college, it should have been automatic she would have been notified there was an alternative.

This payment she will receive does prevent her from working 20 extra hours to make money for after school care – something she could have done under the education allowance.

She added: “If you’re trying to better yourself and get yourself out of poverty, the social welfare should encourage you to do better - to get away from the poverty trap.

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“Everyone likes to say loan parents want to sit at home and do nothing. That just isn’t true, there is no support for you to do that, even when you’re asking for help.

“The system needs to be more transparent for the benefit of people that just want to do better for themselves, so we can gain that support.”

Erica is excited to make new friends at Trinity and to start learning once again. She has opted for extra maths classes and said she is willing to take on any help she can get at college – to make the most of her time there.